"Just in case you've forgotten,
     I'm the Queen of Cold!"
 

    A sequel to "The Snow Queen", this follow-up film commences mere moments
    after the climax of its predecessor. It opens with a useful recap of events,
    courtesy of Peeps the sparrow, as we replay the return of Ellie and Tom to
    their Alpine home. When we last saw her, the Snow Queen was encased tip
    to toe in ice, thanks to Ellie and her pals. But it doesn't take long for her to be
    set free and scheme revenge upon the girl who thwarted her. The Queen snares
    Ellie's friend, Dimly the flying reindeer, and makes tracks for her palace at the
    South Pole, with her Trolls - Eric, Wardrobe and Baggy - along for the ride.  
    Dimly will serve as a useful lure as she perfects her next diabolical plan.

    Ellie takes the bait, and with her Peeps in accompaniment, she sets off in pursuit.
    They get help from Brenda the befuddled Wallibird, who allows them to fly on her
    back due south, but a bunch of porcine restaurateurs, and an encounter with the
    nefarious pilots of the SS Quagmire threaten to derail their rescue attempt.
    The grand finale involves the Snow Queen's nasty Ice-osaurus, lots of freeze
    rays and an erupting volcano. Dimly is saved, and all our heroes and minions
    duly escape. But the Queen isn't so lucky, as she finds herself entombed in
    molten lava...

        

    This new adventure is a world away from its source material (or should
    that be hemisphere?). The story jettisons any traditional fairy tale elements
    in favour of its knockabout antics and acrobatics. And where the first film
    was a kitchen sink production, this time, even that goes into the animation
    pot, so keen are the producers to give us a good time. The Snow Queen
    had three mixed-up minions before. Now Eric, Wardrobe and Baggy are
    joined by two penguin char ladies, Pearl and Elspeth. The action flits between
    happenings at the Pole, and Ellie's journey south, which takes us away from
    the snowy wastes of the previous film, into woods, deserts and oceanscapes.
    And this time there's a parade of new songs. One for every plot twist, in fact.
    Two stand out from the crowd. The Trolls strut nimbly through their
    "Cooperation" song, and the Snow Queen's moment in the spotlight,
    singing "The Queen of Cold", is really rather good indeed ("I'll come to call...
    And snow will fall... Like shivers down your spine!").

    Of course, it helps when you've got stage star Julia McKenzie voicing your
    villain, for she has taken over from Helen Mirren in the title role. Similarly,
    Tim Healy voices Eric, who was previously vocalized by David Jason.
    Everyone else returns to their roles. But Ellie's brother Tom is the exception,
    being confined to bed off screen, and unheard throughout. Ellie tells us he's
    been left exhausted by the previous adventure. And we viewers are left
    somewhat exhausted ourselves, having had to endure one too many
    coincidences in the new plot. The first film had its fair share, but this
    sequel wields its Get Out of Jail Free card quite shamelessly. Still, the
    production looks splendid, and the story bustles along unabashed for a
    little over an hour. At the end, the film suggests the Snow Queen may
    return for a third slice of villainy. But a decade has now passed, and her
    molten cage appears to be rock solid...

 

     See also

    The Snow Queen

 

     The Snow Queen on DVD

       The Snow Queen's Revenge
                 Region 2 / 4 Front / November 2004

 

     a Martin Gates production
     in association with Carrington Productions Intl

 

      On the web


       Entertainment Rights
       ER hold the rights to the film...

       The Snow Queen 
       And here's the original Andersen story...